Eroticism
/ɪˈrɒt.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/noun
The quality or expression of sexual desire or arousal, especially in art or literature.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Eros, the Greek god of desire, and in ancient Greek the related adjective could describe anything touched by erotic longing, not just explicit sex.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
erōtikós
“pertaining to love or desire”
Late Greek
Greek
erōtismós
“desire, amorous feeling”
Late Latin
Latin
eroticus
“erotic, amatory”
17th Century
French
érotisme
“erotic quality or expression”
19th Century
English
eroticism
“the quality of being erotic or sexually suggestive”